Two days on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail (local itinerary)

The Kentucky Bourbon Trail is a great destination I think everyone should visit at least once. With so many amazing distilleries in the region it’s no wonder it can be overwhelming to decide how to spend your time on the trail. And as someone who grew up in Kentucky and was even married at Buffalo Trace, I know a thing or two about visiting the Bourbon Trail. Here’s my guide complete Kentucky Bourbon Trail 2-day itinerary:

Where should I stay?

The Bourbon Trail is spread out mostly between the Louisville, Bardstown, and Frankfurt areas with most distilleries nestled within 30 miles of each of these towns. But with just a few days on the trail I recommend staying in Louisville. You’ll have easy access to Whiskey Row while also being close to both Bardstown and Frankfurt.

For more on where to stay on the Bourbon Trail be sure to check out my complete guide! 

Kentucky Bourbon Trail Tips

• The Bourbon Trail is more than the official trail, so it’s important to do your research beyond the Kentucky Bourbon Trail website since they only partner with a small percentage of distilleries in Kentucky
• Bourbon Trail tour reservations usually open about 3 months in advance… and they book up fast. Be sure to mark your calendar to reserve your spots as soon as the calendar opens
• Don’t overbook yourself with tours – most tours last 60-90 minutes, so you’ll likely only be able to do 3-4 in a day
• Kentucky’s law only allows 1.75 ounces of bourbon at each tasting and it’s likely someone in your group can easily be a designated driver after a tasting
• Most distilleries are closed on Mondays, so plan accordingly for your itinerary

Kentucky Bourbon Trail in 2-Days: Complete Itinerary

Day 1: Visiting Louisville’s Best Distilleries

Starting in Louisville it makes sense to spend Day 1 visiting distilleries in the area. Most of the distilleries now operate at least visitor experiences on Whiskey Row downtown, but there is so much more than Whiskey Row to discover!

Breakfast at a local favorite

Start your day with breakfast at Wild Eggs. This local chain is popular for breakfast and brunch with dishes like Kelsey’s KY Brown (a breakfast twist on the Kentucky Hot Brown) worth the visit. Take it from my own experience, breakfast before a full day of distillery tours and tastings is a must.

Your first distillery: Stitzel-Weller Experience

I love Stitzel-Weller because it’s a working bourbon distillery with rickhouses in urban Louisville, and it’s the only place to see such operations without venturing at least 30 minutes outside of town. Join the Stitzel-Weller’s Experience tour and learn about the history of bourbon within Louisville. The tour takes you through some incredible history that will set you up for the rest of your Bourbon Trail journey.

Next Stop: Rabbit Hole

Contrasting Stitzel-Weller, Rabbit Hole is a modern distillery looking at innovative ways to craft bourbon. Their facilities are modern, they offer a cocktail at the start of your tour (what a perk!), and they have the best gift shop of any of the distilleries. The Rabbit Hole Distillery Tour is well worth your time. 

Lunch in Louisville

With two distilleries down, take a rest and load up with lunch at one of the many downtown favorites. Against the Grain (within walking distance of Rabbit Hole!) has a great selection of pub food and local beers on draft. If you want something a little more upscale, Porch Kitchen and Bar creates unique Kentucky southern food with favorites like shrimp and grits and fried chicken.

Distillery Continues: Old Forester on Whiskey Row

Of all the tours to do on Whiskey Row, Old Forester is the best. Their Old Forester Tour provides a glimpse at the entire bourbon making process, has a great tasting experience, and gives you access to products you can’t find on the shelves. 

Try a different Bourbon Trail experience

By now, if you’re like me, you’re probably toured out. So spend the last part of your day doing something else. Some options include: Bourbon & Billets offers unique blending experiences to give you the ability to literally craft your own bourbon. Or if you’re a foodie consider booking a NULU food tour. Louisville is also home to some incredible museums, like the Muhammad Ali Center and Slugger Museum & Factory

Travel Tip! If you want to bring home some special bourbons, visit Justins’ House of Bourbon for the best selection in Louisville. You’ll likely pay a premium here but if you want hard-to-find items, this is the place. Liquor Barn, however, also has a great selection of bourbons too! (Just not the super rare stuff.)

Try Kentucky’s Signature Dish

If you want a truly Louisville dinner experience, reserve a table at the Brown Hotel and try the original Kentucky Hot Brown. It’s a classic dish that everyone needs to try when visiting Kentucky. After dinner if you’re up for another bourbon experience (you’re on the trail so of course you are) visit the legendary Watch Hill Proper for a drink. This restaurant and bar is where master distillers, distillery owners, and other industry leaders snag pours of exclusive bourbons (but also great cocktails). 

Day 2: Exploring Kentucky’s rural distilleries

I don’t think you can fully get the entire Bourbon Trail experience by just visiting Whiskey Row and the Louisville distilleries. What I think really sets the trail apart from other experiences is seeing and experiencing bourbon where it’s done: rural areas, mostly on the Kentucky River. 

So today we’re headed out of town! Renting a car (if you don’t have one) is the easiest way to get around but you can book a tour instead. Personally, I think going with a tour group is super expensive and doesn’t add to your experience. The DIY method is what works best (and will save you hundreds of dollars).

Drive to Bardstown

Take the 55 minute drive from downtown Louisville to Bardstown, Kentucky. Bardstown is home to many of the best distilleries, including Lux Row, Willet, Heaven Hill, and Bardstown Bourbon Co. 

Start your day at Heaven Hill

Heaven Hill has some of the most unique tours on the market. I recommend exploring their list and picking what sounds most interesting to you. The You Do Bourbon experience, where you can taste premium products and bottle your own, and Bottled-in-Bond tours are both excellent choices. 

Bardstown Bourbon Company (join a tour + have lunch)

Bardstown Bourbon Company is one of the coolest experiences you can have in bourbon. I recommend their Rickhouse Barrel Thieving experience, for only $30 it’s a steal and so unique.

After your thieving tour be sure to snag lunch reservations in their amazing restaurant and bar. They serve upscale Kentucky classics like a fried chicken sandwich and bread pudding.

Drive to Woodford Reserve 

About an hour from Bardstown you’ll find my favorite distillery that is worthy of any 2-day trip on the Bourbon Trail. Woodford Reserve is the most beautiful of all the distilleries on the trail. Their Path to Flavor Tour will give you an appreciation for the beauty in bourbon and some amazing pictures to show your friends, too.

Dinner in Louisville

From Woodford Reserve to Louisville is about an hour driving. Make yourself dinner reservations at one of my more recent favorite restaurants, The Village Anchor. This local establishment is a bit off-the-beaten-path and will be a uniquely local experience.

Explore on. -K